Railway signal system



H. MARGOTTA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL SYSTEM.

, APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2,1916- 1,337,935. Patented p 20, 1920.

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RAILWAY SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED mac. 2. 1916.

1,337,935. Patented Apr. 20, 1920 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. MARGOTTA,

RAILWAY SiGNAL SYSTEM.-

APPLICATION FlLED DEC. 2. 19.16.

1 337 935. Patented A r. 20, 1920 4 SHEETSSHF.ET 4.

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HORACE MABGOTTA, OE SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BAILW'AY SIGNAL SYSTEJI.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented A pr. 20, 1920.

Application filed December 2. 1916. Serial No. 134.665.

1' b all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HORACE MAuooTTA, of Scranton, in the county of Laclrawanna and State of Pennsyl ania, h ve invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will on able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved system for automatically indicating on moving car or train the condition of the rails, the presence on the same track of cars or trains in the rear and in front travelin in the same direction. and also the presence of a car or train in front moving in the opposite direction, the latter condition being indicated on both cars or trains. Each block of the track is divided into a series of sections with overlapping ends, and each car or train is equipped with contacts for engaging terminals of each section before and after leaving a section to indicate the presence of a car or train forward or rearward. Each car or train is equipped with contacts for engaging terminals for electrifying the rails of forward sections through circuit-closers which are successively thrown out of operation as the car or train progresses, and if second car or train be movin. in the opposite direction within the same block. the presence of each car or train will be communicated to the other.

In the accor panying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a series of sections; Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically the arrangement for indicating the presence in the section of a car ahead. Fig. 3 shows the arrangement for indicating the presence of a car in the rear. Fig. 1 indicates the a rf ff l 'lifilt for electrifying sections in ad vance of a car whereby the presence of two cars moving in opposite directions may be indicated. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1. but indicating two cars in a block moving in opposite directions. Fig. 6 shows in deta l 1* dev ce on an exaggerated scale. Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically the contact num carried by the car. Fig. 8 shows the a. .ngement for indicating broken rails.

in this description andin the claims the word car is to be considered the same as train of cars, but it is necessary that only one car of a train be equipped in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the main rails of a block are shown as divided into sections unsymmetrically, that is to say, the termination of a section in one rail is out of line with the termination of the same section in the other rail, with the result that in passing from one section to another, wheels on a common axle will, for a short distance, be on rails of adjoining sections. Intermediate the rails at end of section and between sections, are several terminals 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 The terminal 2 is located a short distance fro n the section to which it is electrically connected through terminal 8 by wire 7. be utilized for indicating, to a train moving in one direction. the presence of a train ahead. and also the conditions of the track. The terminals in respect to a train moving to the right in the several figures of the drawings are indicated by 2, 3. 14*, 5, (5 and S.

The car equipment includes wheels 9 electrically connected through axle 10, the positive pole of a battery being connected to one of the wheels 9. The car carries a series of contact brushes 12, 13 and 14, (see F is. 7) for engaging the several track terminals. These brushes are mounted on axle 10 but insulated therefrom and from one another. Each of the contact brushes is designed to control signals on the train for indicating the conditions along the track.

Referring particularly to Fig. 7, the brush 12 is connected through suitable wiring with a positi pole of a battery W and with the negative pole of battery W. In connection with this brush 12 is a relay 18 for controlling a signal lamp, preferably green, for indicating the presence or indirectly, the absence of a car in a section ahead when the brush 12 engages terminal 2. The brush 12 is also designed to engage a terminal 5 my 5. accordinr to the direction of the train by which the presence of a car in the section ahead moving in an opposite direction will be indicated through a relay 17 upon engagement of the brush 12 with contact point 12, the signal lamp so controlled being preferably red.

Brush 13, *hich I have shown in the form a two arm lever, in its normal position is in engagement with the contact point 13 of the negative pole of battery W. This brush is designed to be moved out of such engagement and into contact with contact This terminal 2 is intended to point 13 of a relay 16 which controls a third signal light, preferably blue, for indicating the presence or indirectly, the absence of a car to the rear traveling in the same direction, the contact between the brush 13 and the point 13 being broken when the brush 13 engages terminal 8.

Brush 1a is connected with the negative pole of battery W. This brush is for the purpose of indicating the condition of the rails of the system, the engagement of the brushwith the terminal 6 making contact between the brush, which as before stated, is connected with the negative pole or" battery W, and contact 14: of a fourth relay 17, such relay controlling a signal light, preferably white.

Referring now Do Fig. 2, wherein a car,

supposedly moving to the left, is indicated at X, and a second car, traveling in the same direction, at Z, before car X wholly leaves the section on which it is shown, and as it is to pass onto the next "forward section, its contact brush 12 upon engaging terminal 2, which is connected through terminal 8 with the rail 1 in advance, will close the circuit through relay 18 it there is a car in the forward section, that is, the circuit will be completed through the wheels and axle of the forward car, and the presence 0]: thelatter will be indicated by the green light on car X. The circuit will be from the positive of battery WV through the axle and wheel of the car at the right, rail 1, wheel, axle and wheel of car Z, rail 1, terminals 3 and 2, relay 18 to the negative of battery W. 11, however, there is no car ahead in the same direction, relay 18 will not be energized, because of the absence of a carrying medium for the electri al energy between rails 1 and 1.. If, at the same time, there is a car to the rearin the section car X is leaving that fact will be indicated on car (see Fig. 3) through the closing of the circuit through relay 16 when contact is made between the brush 13 and point 13 by engagement oi the brush with terminal 8,the circuit being established from the positive of battery WV to the axle 10, wheel 9, of car X, rail 1, wheel axle and wheel of car Z, rail 1', terminal 8 brush 13, contact point 13 relay 16 to the negative of battery W.

At ea'h station, or at each section, provi sion is made for automatically electrifying a sulficient number of terminals 5 in advance of a car to guard against the possibility or head-on collisions. The cutting in of the current to a single terminal is productive of the same result in respect to several suchterminals inadvance of the car. This is also true in respect of a car traveling in the opposite direction so that when the two cars are within the zone of their electrified terminals (5 5?) signals of the approaching danger will be given on both cars. Each terminal is separately controlled by circuit closers which are automatically positioned by cars traveling in either direction. Fig. 4 shows the terminals electrified by a car moving to the left.

As the battery circuit is closedthrough brush 13 and terminal 3 several forward circuit closers are operated and their respective terminals 5, being in circuit therewith, will close the circuit on the oppositcly-traveling car when its respective brush 12 engages terminal 5, thereby causing a red signal on this car to prevent a head-on collision. The circuit established upon engagement of brush 13 with terminal 3 is as follows, see Fig. 1) from the positive of battery W to the axle 10, wheel 9, rail 1, magnet 20, terminal 3, brush 13, contact point 1 to negative of battery W'.

W hen brush 13 engages terminal 3, the electrcmagnet 20 will be energized, the negative pole of such magnet being connected to terminal 3, while the other pole is in circuit with the positive pole of the car battery through the track and wheel. W hen magnet 20 is energized it will actuate armature 21, and a circuit closing contact, the lead of which is indicated at 21, carried by, such armature will be brought into engagement with a contact 22 which is connected by a wire 23 with terminal 5. The armature 21 also carries second and third circuit closers, 2-1 and 24., which are insulated from each other. When armature 21 is actuated by its magnet it will be held in circuit closing position by engagement of its free end with he raised portion or" the armature of a leasing magnet 28,

The circult-cl-oser with the rail the next forward section. (lircuit-closer 2a is intended to engage the contact point of an aerial wire 24 which leads to magnet 20 of the next section through its terminal A circuit will thus be established trom'magnet 20 through circuit closer 24, contact 26, wire 27, rail 1 to magnet 20, in advance, to terminal 3, aerial 24:, the contact point or" such aerial, circuit closer 2%, to the magnet. This circuit is effective to energize the magnet 20 of the next forward circuit closer, which in turn will operate a cireuitcloser in advance and so until all the circuit closers of section, or a sullicient number thereoi'are actuated to avoid a head-on collisi n. LLS each circuitcloser is operated its res ective terminal 5 or 5"* is in condition to give the necessary signal through the brush 12 and contact 12 or the opposite car. The circuit for this signal is (see Fig. .1) from the positive of batte y TV to the axle 10, wheel 9, rail 1, wheel axle and wheel of the car at the left, rail 1, lead 21, contact 22, wire 23, terminal 5, brush 12, contact point 12, relay 17, to the nega- 24 is designed to engage contact 26, which is connected by wire 27 tive of battery W. If the car battery is sufficient to cause the closing of the circuit through all of the circuit-closers of a block, as brush 13 engages the first terminal 3, there will be successive closings as car advances.

During the travel of the latter it successively op ns each of the circuit-closers, that is to say, after leaving a terminal 3 brush 13 will a teril'iinal to energize electromagnet 28 and cause its armature to release the circuit closing armature 21, breaking the contacts 22 and a-so the circuit between the circuit closer 24; and 26 and contact 2% and 2%. Que pole of electro-magnet 28 is connected to terminal l by wire 29, while the other pole is connected to the track, the circuit oeing tans established from the positive of battery Ff to the wheels and axle or the car, the rail 1, lead 29, magnet 28, lead 29, terminal 4, brush 13 to the negative of battery W.

To insure the neceisary indication of danger on both of the oppositely-traveling cars the arrangement of electro-magnets and circuit-closers is duplicated on the other side of the track, and such are energized by cars moving in the opposite direction to that which has been assumed in respect or" train X Fig. l.

Thus, it will be seen that cars traveling in opposite directions will control each or series oi circuitclosers sufliciently in ad to insure signaling from one car to anoth r when two cars are traveling in opposite directions in the same blocks and t let each or" these circuit-closers is automatically deenergized by the car which caused its actuation.

in addition to indicating the presence or absence of a train ahead traveling in the or in an opposite direction and a train in the rear, my invention also comprehends mechanism for indicating the condition of the rails. Terminals 2 and 6 are employed for this purpose. Terminal 2 is connected with the beginning of main rail 1 (through terminal 8) and the end of this same main rail 1 by another wire is connected to the arm. .ture of a magnet 36 at the of the section. This arn ature 35 when attracted by its magnet 36, will make contact with ground wire 37. This magnet is energized simultaneously with the actuation of the circuit closer through the same source or" energy which actuates magnet 20. Terminal 6 is also grounded.

in the there is energy ll. Zhe negative pole of this energy goes to contact ii and the positive t irough magnet 38 goes to contact 12. The circuit of this energy, then, will be completed when magnet 36 attracts its lever 35, the circuit being from battery ll, magne 38, contact 12, terminal 2, wire 7, terminal 8, rail 1, armature 35, ground 87,

terminal 6, contact 1%, back to battery. The magnet 38 in the train will be electrified only when the above circuit is completed. Si'ipposing, now, rail 1 will be br hen, magnet 36 cannot be energized, and lever 35 will not come in contact with wire 37, the rail i being the medium through which current is sent to the positive pole olthe magnet to which magnet 36 is connected.

If, on the contrary rail 1 will be broke the positive of energy 1V cannot reach lever of magnet 36. Therefore in both cases the circuit of energy V will be broken, and magnet 38 will not operate on the train.

A relay 17 rail. This relay depends entirely on magnet 38, and has a contact point 39 with which armature 40 of magnet 38 is in engagement save when the magnet 38 is encrgized, and a contact point 14-. Armature i0 is connected to the positive of the energy al This contact will come in connection with contact 1% when said contact ll gives the signal for a broken reaches the higher point oil terminal 6, and

then the negative of energy il from contact 14-. will run to contact 1%, to the relay.

it appears from the above description that relay 1'?" will receive'the negative of energy lV when and only when contact 14 comes in connection with contact lF-the positive, on the contrary, only when magnet is not energizer. In other words, the circuit of the relay 17 is completed when the circuit of magnet 38 is broken. Therefore, the signal of broken rail is given be cause, as before explained, the circuit of magnet 38 will be broken, always, when one or both rails are broken.

Terminals 6 and 6 are horizontal for about one-third their lengths, the remaining two thirds being made in the form of an arch so that when contact 14, which passes .w .i,, ",1 i. or the terminal, reaches the highest point of this arch, it will come in contact with 14;. Cont-acts 5 and 8 and and 8 are inclined throughout their lengths for the purpose of the ne; "ssary movement of the conemibrushes to bring the relays into operathe foregoing desorption reference has made in a general way to the signals the car and their connections with the main battery. in Fig. 6 I have shown in grcater detail the arrangement employed for a single signaling devil-e. This arrange observed in respect to all the sig- The object in view is to mantain a even after the respective contact has in terminal through which the signal circuit was closed. The signal selected for illus i is that which indicates the pres another train moving in the opposite cction. The positive pole of battery V of a secondary circuit is connected by a wire 55 to a lamp 56, by wire 57 to a bell 58 and by wire 59 to an arinature 60 of relayl'l. The negative pole' of battery V is connected by wire 61 to the core of the relay. The circuit of battery VI (the main circuit) of the car at the rig-l sed ii an J- the same section, when the irush 12 or the car moving to th left o s th 5, the brush being move the Joint 12 the circuit bein i 1 7 :7 D 1 positive of battery 3". to the axle 10, was 9, rail 1, lead 21, 'LOlitact 2L (connectio between lead 21 and the contact havin been effected through the one is connected by wire 60 t0 circuit breaker 66 which is norr ly in electric contact with a bracket 67 which is connected by wire 68 to relay 1'? t which latter battery is coir nected by wire 69. The contact 1% is can nected by wire Y0 to the relay. the circuit will be maintained tl 'ough both batteries until it is broken by the engineer, and this is accomplished by moving the circuit breaker 66 out oi engagement with bracket 67.

The advantages of my invention will readily be appreciated bythose skilled in the art. It is manifest that the extent of control exercised by each car cquioped with my improvements depei ds upon the conditions in each section of the road. (me set of electro-niagnets anda circuit-closer at each station may under certain circumstances, but it may necessary to have several circuit-closers and. magnets therefor between stations. Of course, these circuitcloscrs are only for the purpose 0* preventing head-on collisions.

Thus

So far as concerns the other features of my invention, the automatic indication 01" the presence a car traveling; in the same direction, ahead or in rear, t ,e circuit-closers not necessary.

I clann as my invention: u 1. In autoinstic signal, the combina tion with a railway tr ck divided into sec tions, of series of circuit-closer series of terminals for operating a plurality of circuitclosers of a se ies in advance of a car, a second series oi? tcr inals controlled by said circuit closers, car having a source of electric energy and contacts for engaging said inals, and a signal on the car igned to be operated when the contact is in engagement with one of the series of terminals energized an oppositely-movingcar.

an automatic signal, the combinaa railway track divided into secseries or" terminals, two sets of 11 uit-closers res ectively controlling the sane, oneset being controlled cars movin one diretlon and the other by 5 moving in the opposite direction, terminals for each circuit-closer, one for )sing a plurality of circuit closers of a ies in advance of a car and the other for fening the circuit closer with which it is c nec cd, of a car having a source of elecnergy, two contacts in circuit there- .1, one cor act for engaging the last seened terminals for operating said circuitosers, and the other contact for engaging erminal of the first note-d series, and controlled by said latter contact.

In an automatic signal, the combination with railway track divided into secircuit closer for each section, two

" each circuit closer, one for d a plurality of circuit closers car andthe other for mov- All closer with which and a terminal connected h each circuit closer and adapted to dever signals to an approaching train, of a a ing a source or" electrical energy, .ct for successively engaging said terminal l. "in an automatic signal, the combination with a railway track divided into a seof sections, of two series of circuit closers for said sections, each circuit-closer an armature for closing the cir cult between trash-sot adjacent sections, terminal through which the circuit is closed for moving said circuit-closers in opposite directions, means for causing a corresponding; closing action in other forward circuitclosers as each circuit closer is successively closed, a terminal for each circuit-closer of the two series, car, a contact carried by the car for engaging one of the last noted terminals, and a signal controlled thereby. 5. ln automatic signal, the comhina closers, means for successively energizing.

said electro-magnets for opening and closing the circuit, means for communicating the closing; act on of each circuit-closer to one or more circuit-closers in forward sectrons oi the track, a car having a source of electrical energ' contacts for enga ing said terminals, and a signal designed to be operated by one of the contacts.

6. An automatic signal system comprising a railway track divided into sections, electric terminals connected to the rails or" each section and located some distance from the ends thereof, two series of circuit closers, terminals for each closer, one for closa plurality of circuit closers ot a series in aovance of a car and the other for opening the circuit closer with which it is con nected, a terminal designed to be connected with a rail of a section in advance by one of said circuit closers, a car having a source of electric energ a contact in circuit therewith for engaging the terminals of one or said sets of circuit closers, separate contacts also in circuit with the source of electric energy designed to engage the terminals connected with said rails and the terminal controlled by said circuit closers, and separate signals controlled by said last mentioned contacts.

7. in automatic signal system comprising a railway track divided into sections, electric terminals connected to the rails 01 each section and located some distance from the ends thereof, an electric terminal adjacent said first mentioned terminals adagted to form part of an electric circuit, two sets of circuit closers, terminals for each closer, one for closing and the other for opening the same, terminal designed to be con nected with the rail of a section in advance by one of said circuit closers, a car having a source of electric energy, a contact in circuit therewith for engaging the terminals of one 01' said sets of circuit closers, separate con acts also in circuit with the source of electric energy designed to the terminals connected with said rails, the terminal adjacent said rail terminals, and the terminal controlled by said circuit closers, and separate signals controlled by said last mentioned contacts.

5%. i-in automatic signaling system including a railway track divided into sections, a circ it closer for each section, two terminals for eacl circuit closer, one for closing it and a plurality of circuit closers in advance oi? a car and the other for moving it to open the circuit closer with which it is connected, a terminal connected with each circuit closer and adapted to deliver signals to an a pgroachin train, a series of electric terminals adjacent sid rail sections, car having contacts for engaging said terminals, and signaling devices carried by the c 1', each signaling device comprising a main circuit and a secondary circuit, said main circuit including a battery, a relay, an armature therefor, a circuit closer carried by the armature, and contacts controlled by said circuit closer, said main circuit battery being adapted to close and open said circuit closer of each rail section, and said secondary circuit including a battery and signaling devices said latter battery being connected to sai and a circuit breaker in one of said circuics, and said main circuit battery being also adapted to maintain said signaling devices.

9. in automatic signal system comprising a railway track divided into sections, an electric terminal connected to the rails of each section at one end, circuit closer connected to the opposite end oi each of aid rails, means for actuating said circuit closer, a grounded terminal adjacent said rail terminal, car having a source of electric energy, a signal in circuit therewith, and means carried by said car including a contact designed to engage said grounded terminal for actuating said signal, and means also carried by said car for rendering said last mentioned means inoperative through the instrumentality of said first mentioned terminal.

10. An automatic signal system comprising a railway track divided into sections, an electric terminal connected to the rails of each section at one end, a circuit closer connected to the opgosite end of each of said rails, means for actuating said circuit closer, a grounced terminal adjacent said rail terminal, a car having a source of elec tric energy, a contact in circuit therewith a; n designed to engage said grounded terminal, a signal controlled by said last men tioned terminal, a circuit closer, a magnet in circuit with said electric energy, second. contact in circuit with said magnet and designed to actuate the latter through the instrumentality of said rail terminal to render said signal controlling circuit inoperative.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HORACE MARGOTTA.

'd mature and said relay,

Witnesses P. F. CAnLUooI, J. MnNoLo. 

